Guest post by Laurence Verga
After the absolute debacle that was NY-23, you would think the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) would learn from its mistakes and stop supporting liberal candidates, especially in primaries.
Unfortunately they have not.
I know this because the NRCC has endorsed my most liberal opponent for the Republican nomination, State Senator Robert Hurt, in Virginia’s 5th district race against freshman Congressman Tom Perriello, one of the most vulnerable Democrats in 2010.
Hurt voted for then-Democratic Governor Mark Warner’s $1.4 billion tax increase, the largest in Virginia history, at a time when there was a surplus. Also troubling is his vote for outgoing Democratic Governor Tim Kaine’s unconstitutional transportation law that the State Supreme Court unanimously ruled unconstitutional for imposing a system of taxation without representation.
Although the NRCC is now hinting that it won’t “publicly endorse” Hurt, I have found out from my meetings with many Congressman and political reporters on Capitol Hill that they are clearly backing and significant pushing my opponent.
However, I didn’t need to go to the Capitol Hill to know this. Every article written on the VA-5 race mentions Sen. Hurt as if he was the only candidate, with the NRCC publicly defending his record.
Worse, an election memo they sent out a day after Gov.-Elect Bob McDonnell’s landslide victory says that incumbent Congressman Perriello’s general election opponent is State Senator Robert Hurt – more than six months before the nomination is decided. NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions has also sent out emails bragging about the candidates he’s recruiting, including Hurt among the bunch.
If all the above isn’t evidence of an endorsement, than the word has lost all meaning. While politicos in Washington, D.C. can play their games of semantics, the citizens of the 5th District understand what’s going on. I’ve heard their discontent with the NRCC time and time again on the campaign trail.
The NRCC should take a page out of Hurt’s playbook as a legislator and campaigner and do nothing.
Hurt’s record in the Virginia legislature is about as notable as the Washington Redskins’ performance this season. While he criticizes Congressman Perriello for his PelosiCare vote, he has failed as a legislator to introduce any bills for the proven state-level free-market reforms that reduce health care costs.
On the campaign trail thus far, he’s been equally inactive. He has failed to organize any public events of his own, take a stand on any policy issues of the day besides Perriello’s initial vote for PelosiCare, and his website only has a welcome page with his biography.
When Hurt has been active, he’s hurt Virginia families with higher taxes and more government intervention. However, Hurt can’t hurt us when he’s inactive.
The same is true of the NRCC. They hurt our country with their activity in NY-23, but they can’t hurt us when they’re inactive.
They should both do nothing and let principled conservatives freely fight for the Republican nomination.
I ask conservatives across the country to join the fight and get involved in my race for two reasons.
First, to send a loud and clear message to the seemingly deaf NRCC that the path to a congressional majority is running candidates that are the starkest contrast with the Democrat’s damaging liberal agenda.
Just imagine Hurt trying to challenge Perriello on the Cap and Trade and PelosiCare taxes he’s supported. Perriello will easily respond “Who are you to talk about tax increases, you voted for the largest one in Virginia history?”
Second, to send the message that the national party should stay out of primaries. Free, fair, and local competition not only produces the best candidates, but follows the conservative principle of federalism where the maximum amount of decisions are made at the local level while few decisions are made at the national level.
Thomas Jefferson, a native of the 5th Congressional District, was a strong proponent of the principle, writing “It is an axiom in my mind that our liberty can never be safe but in the hands of the people themselves. Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone.”
With your help we can send the NRCC a strong message that we don’t want Virginia’s 5th district to be another NY-23. They should take a page out of Hurt’s playbook and do nothing.
Laurence Verga is a small business owner based in Charlottesville, VA and a Republican candidate for Congress. He may be reached via his website: http://www.vergaforcongress.com.
Ed Note: Verga also appeared on the Laura Ingraham show. You can listen to his appearance here.
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This is coming from the same person (Laurence Verga) who said that there were 29 counties in the Fifth District when there are 18 counties.
I don’t live in the 5th, and Willy P what you say may very well be true, but if the NRCC is doing what he claims, he has every right to complain. The NRCC and all other GOP organizations (RNC, RPV, etc) need to stay out of primary and nomination processes. Once the people decide on a nominee, then they can come in and support whomever that person happens to be.
Verga misspells the names of the rural counties in the district he claims he can represent. those of us from Lunenburg don’t like this.
of course this is picky! but Perriello spells “Lunenburg” & “Mecklenburg” correctly.
and further, Verga brings up a really great point about Hurt’s legislative record: Hurt doesn’t introduce alot of legislation. Good. He should spend his time in Richmond & soon in DC, un-doing 50% of the onerous legislation.
Perriello can be beat, but it is going to take a young candidate that is personally warm & can make that “connection” with a voter. And the race will not be won or lost in Ivy, Va.
OMG a typo in an article: ” I can’t support that candidate.” I’ll support the one who raises taxes and supports legislation that violates the state constitution instead. A candidate that doesn’t respect parental rights. Obviously a much better choice.
Quit complaining and campaign.
As far as I am concerned, Hurt is the best candidate and the race is his to lose.
I have a simple question for people backing Hurt. Why Hurt? What about him as a candidate? Everyone talks about him being the NRCC’s pick. Who cares, they’ve blown other races this year. What makes him a good conservative candidate?
Honestly Verga is just a transplant from California who thinks he can come to the 5th district and run for Congress. He hasn’t lived here long enough at all to know or understand the people of the 5th district and what issues are important to him.
To Roanoke Conservative:
Perriello was born and raised in the 5th district, how is that working out for you.
Verga is not ready for prime time. Hurt has the experience to lead this district and understands the people, needs, and future goals of this district.
I am undecided on who I will support at this juncture. I have spoken with Verga personally and am impressed with his grasp of the issues, he surprised me with the detail of his answers. Hurt has some good qualities, and Feda Morton has an impressive website and social network.
Perriello will not be a pushover, and all of the candidates minus perhaps Ken Boyd, have never faced tough competition, with some not having any competition at all. That does not matter as much as how they perform now. I personally do not want the Democrats deciding our nominee, on the other hand, a primary will give the eventual nominee a chance to get his or her organization in place for the general.
To Bill,
Roanoke is not in the Fifth District, but in the Sixth District FYI.
OK, so Aaron has thrown out “experience” and knowing the people of the district. But remember what his hometown paper has said:
“While Hurt has done well in every race he has run during his political career, he’s never faced the kind of challenge he’s getting right now. If he’s really the front-runner and he really wants the GOP nomination, he should be able to fight for it.”
http://www2.godanriver.com/gdr/news/opinion/editorials/danville_editorials/article/when_the_going_gets_really_tough/16127/
Hurt has “experience” winning in safe Republican seats with virtually no opposition. Perriello is not going to be a push over. He virtually had to be dragged into the race by the NRCC and so far hasn’t shown the fire in his belly that he wants to win. That’s worrying for a district covering so many counties, newspapers, and media markets. He’s got to work twice as hard as the now incumbent Perriello.
To Govgirl,
The NRCC did not handpick Dede Scozzafava, but eleven county Republican chairs from the 23rd District made that pick and the NRCC went supported Dede after they made their pick. If you want to place the blame on who messed up, blame the Republican county chair from the 23rd District.
Willy P – did I say anything about the 23rd? I am well aware of how that was decided. My point (and I think Verga’s larger one) is that the NRCC, RPV, RNC and the like need to stay out of nomination contests. The NY 23rd was not a nomination contest, they had every right to endorse in that race, they were just stupid and went with the title rather then the issues. But this is not the NY 23rd, this is a clean slate nomination race that should run its course WITHOUT party interference. If Hurt can’t win without them, then he doesn’t deserve to and won’t win in November. Also I would like to note as Brian pointed out in another post, that all of the candidates (except Hurt) want a convention. So what does that tell you? The only ones that lose in a convention format are those that stand to gain from Dem meddling in the Rep primary, which at the moment, Hurt is wearing that hat all by himself.
Notandysere, i was talking about experience in representing and reacting to the needs of the people in that district. I agree that TP will not be a pushover and that Hurt needs to fight for the nomination. But we are a long way from May (convention), there is plenty of time for the fire to emerge and become directed at the terrible policies of the Democrats.
Aaron, I don’t want to under-value Hurt’s elected experience. But I do want to try to put it into context. He has had a very, very, very safe district both as a Delegate and as a State Senator. With Virginia’s part time legislature I don’t think he’s gotten a true taste of what Congress will be like. That’s true of everyone else in this field. That puts Hurt on the same footing as them, not a step above.
I notice a lot of pro-Hurt comments, but I could not find one reason to vote for him. I can’t understand supportive statements from politically active people who cannot find anything good to say about their candidate.
How can he possibly stand as alternative to Periello when their attitudes toward government are so similar? Why will anyone get out to work for a Tweedle Dum, Tweedle Dee candidate? If both are big tax, big government proponents, why go to any effort for Hurt? Someone said he will go to DC to undo the onerous legislation? What is that based on? He is responsible for some of the most onerous Virginia legislation to come down the pike recently.
The most positive arguments I’ve heard about Hurt is that he can win. If this were, say, 2010 and Obama was on the ballot helping base turnout for Perriello, I could see the argument in favor of Hurt. But this is 2010 and the only base turnout will be generated by those who want to come out to vote against Obama and the Democrats (check) and those who want to come out to vote for their candidate. I think that a more consistently conservative candidate would energize the Republican base more and minimize the number of unhappy conservatives who vote Third Party. I think Hurt would reduce the enthusiasm of conservatives and encourage more of them to vote Third Party. So far, the energy of his campaign is lacking. He seems more than willing to sit at home in Chatham and let his underlings campaign for him. That’s not a good strategy when Perriello will be campaigning everywhere all the time.
I think we all need to take a step back and look at Hurt. He is a proven conservative, who worked with McDonnell and others to pass solid conservative legislation. Yes, he did vote for the Warner tax increase, but that was one bad vote. We need to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. Hurt is no McCain. It is easy for Verga and others to say they are conservative when they have done nothing politically in their lives. That is like me saying i am a great basketball player, when i have never played a day in my life.
Hurt knows his district, knows its needs (i.e. the need for a new jail in the Danville area), he knows the business community in the 5th and how to help them create jobs. Further, he knows how to bring jobs to the area.
Verga is completely misreading what happened in NY-23 and what is now happening in VA-5.
We know nothing about Verga either. He is a Cal-Berkeley/San Fran grad who’s got a ton of money and who only moved to the area a few years ago. I’m not sure the word “carpetbagger” comes to mind, but we’re supposed to automatically agree with him because he calls himself a “constitutionalist” and spouts “business friendly” talking points?
Maybe not.
It’s not the NY-23 unless a third party candidate pops up….
With so many candidates (2nd & 5th)you are almost forced to hold a convention. A tiny plurality needed in a primary of multiple candidates is dangerous.
If your herd of RINOs is so large that you can’t nominate a solid conservative in a convention, then you DESERVE a third party challenge.
Aaron says: “He is a proven conservative, who worked with McDonnell and others to pass solid conservative legislation. Yes, he did vote for the Warner tax increase, but that was one bad vote.”
Proven how? To most people in 5th district the most important issues are over-taxation and arrogant, unconstitutional government. This was not one bad vote, as he also voted for the Kaine tax increase, I believe. Sounds to me more like a serial taxer. Even if it were only one bad vote, it is a HUGE bad vote, in fact, as far as I am concerned, it is a deal breaker. Not only that, what is Hurt’s position on this “bad vote”? Has he issued a huge mea culpa? What are his proven conservative votes? Has he voted to cut state government? Has he been a supporter of Cuccinelli’s efforts to defend the state rights against Federal abuse? Is he supporting efforts to pass legislation that will protect Virginians from Federal intrusions in health care?
Some more to note about Hurt’s record. He has an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association, and a 100 percent voting record with the Virginia Society for Human Life, the Commonwealth’s premier pro-life organization. He has also signed the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge and He voted for the marriage amendment, voted against civil unions. Hurt also received a 91 rating on the Family Foundation 2009 Legislative Report card which mind you is the same score received by Attorney General-Elect Ken Cuccinelli and only five of his forty Senate colleagues earned higher ratings.
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